SHOCK ABSORBING TOOL BITS
A tool bit having a first end, a second end including an engagement portion for engaging a tool, a shank extending longitudinally between the tip and the engagement portion, and a spring, the spring being fixed to the shank in a manner such that the spring remains in a substantially static position while the tool bit is in use.
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This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/693,949 entitled “Shock Absorbing Tool Bits and Tool Bit Holders, Extensions, and Adapters” filed Aug. 28, 2012, the contents of which are fully incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is directed to tool bits and tool bit holders and extensions having shock and vibration absorption capabilities.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONHand and power tool bits, bit holders, and bit extensions currently used in the art are generally rigid, solid pieces which have very little to no give when in use. Because of the rigid, solid nature, when using known tools bits, bit holders, and bit extensions, any impact, shock, or vibration is transmitted through the bit to the user holding the tool or power tool to which the bit is connected. For example, when using a hammer drill, the impact of the bit typically transmits great amounts of vibration and impact to the user holding the drill. The transmitted vibration and impact may cause inaccurate or inefficient tool use and may lead to discomfort for some users. The impact vibration may likewise cause damage to the device and bit or an associated bit holder as well.
While certain resilient members may be used in the art which allow a tool bit, tool bit holder, or shank to compress or otherwise reduce impact and torque, movement of the bit, bit holder, or shank may likewise cause inaccurate or inefficient tool usage.
Therefore, it would be advantageous to create a tool bit, tool bit holder, tool bit extension, and/or tool bit adapter which has shock and vibration absorption capabilities while the tool bit, tool bit holder, or tool bit extension, remains fixed and rigid to insure maximum accuracy and efficiency while the tool bit, tool bit holder, or tool bit extension are in use.
The present invention is provided to solve these and other issues.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccordingly, the present invention is directed to a tool bit, tool bit holder, and tool bit extension having a statically positioned shock absorber to reduce the effect of any vibrations or impact caused by tool usage.
According to one aspect of the invention, a tool bit having a first end, a second end having an engagement portion, and a shank extending longitudinally between the first end and the second end is provided. The tool bit includes a spring fixed to the shank in a manner such that the spring remains in a substantially static position while the tool bit is in use.
According to another aspect of the invention, the spring may be substantially statically fixed to the exterior of the shank. The tool bit may include a sheath substantially surrounding the shank and spring, which may be made of a rigid or resilient material.
In order to hold the spring in place, rather than affix it directly to the exterior of the shank, at least one anchor may be provided. The spring may be fixedly attached to a portion of the at least one anchor while at least a portion of the at least one anchor may be fixedly attached to the shank. The anchor acts to fix the spring to the shank in a substantially static position while the tool bit is in use.
According to another aspect of the invention, the shank may include a substantially hollow cavity defined therein. Rather than be fixed to the exterior of the shank the spring may be fixed within the cavity in a manner such that the spring remains in a substantially static position while the tool bit is in use. A rod extending longitudinally in the cavity in the shank may be provided. The rod may extend within the interior of the spring, within the coils from one end of the cavity to the other.
The tool bit may include a shoulder located between the shank and the tip. The shoulder may form the upper bound of the cavity while the second end forms a portion of the lower bound of the cavity with the shank extending between the shoulder and the second end. A first end of the spring may be attached to the portion of the shoulder which defines the upper bound of the cavity and a second end of the spring may be attached to the portion of the engagement portion which defines the lower bound of the cavity.
Alternatively, at least one anchor may be fixed within the cavity, wherein the spring has one end attached to the at least one anchor. The at least one anchor may be formed from a resilient material.
Other aspects and features of the invention will become apparent to those having ordinarily skill in the art upon review of the following Description, Claims, and associated Drawings.
While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail, preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated.
As used herein, the substantially static position for the spring relative to the elements of the bit means that the first end 20 and second end 22 of the spring are attached to shank 14 and fixed so that first end 20 and second end 22 cannot move during operation. The first and second ends of the spring may be attached to the shank using any means known in the art, including but not limited to welding or through the use of an adhesive. The static fixing of spring 18 substantially prevents either end of the spring from compressing, elongating, twisting, or rotating during operation while the bit is in use. When attached directly to the shank (whether externally as shown in
As seen in
Second end 16 or the engagement portion of the tool bit may likewise be configured in any manner known in the art so that it may be engaged and held by a hand tool or a power tool. For example, the engagement portion may be hexagonal or round, may be grooved or lipped, may include a quick connect or similar connection—any configuration which allows the bit to engage with a hand tool or chuck on a power tool may be utilized as the second end. The engagement portion may also be a separate and distinct portion formed at the opposite end of the bit as the first end, or may alternatively be formed as an extension or far end of the shank.
Shank 14 may be completely rigid or partially or fully flexible, or have a portion which may be rotated or swiveled as needed. For example, as seen in
Rather than be attached directly to the shank, as seen in
In some embodiments first end 12 or shank 14 may include a lip or shoulder similar to edge 26 in
The embodiments shown in
Where a sheath is used, one or more anchors similar to anchor 24 in
Thus far, bit 10 or 110 has been shown with an external spring 18 or 118, and in the case of bit 110 with a sheath 128 surrounding the shank 114 and spring 118 in order to protect it, however it is contemplated that the spring may be located internally, inside the shank.
As seen in
In order to provide additional strength to a bit having an internal cavity 230, as shown in
While in the foregoing there has been set forth as embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or central characteristics thereof. The present embodiments, therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein. While specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the characteristics of the invention and the scope of protection is only limited by the scope of the accompanying claims.
Claims
1. A tool bit comprising:
- a first end;
- a second end having an engagement portion;
- a shank extending longitudinally between the first end and the second end; and
- a spring, the spring being fixed to the shank in a manner such that the spring remains in a substantially static position while the tool bit is in use.
2. The tool bit of claim 1 wherein the spring is substantially statically fixed to the exterior of the shank.
3. The tool bit of claim 2 further comprising a sheath substantially surrounding the shank and spring.
4. The tool bit of claim 3 wherein the sheath is made of a resilient material.
5. The tool bit of claim 2 further comprising at least one anchor, the spring being fixedly attached to a portion of the one anchor, wherein the at least one anchor having a portion fixedly attached to the shank to fix the spring to the shank in a substantially static position while the tool bit is in use.
6. The tool bit of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the shank includes a substantially hollow cavity defined therein, wherein the spring is fixed within the cavity in the shank in a manner such that the spring remains in a substantially static position while the tool bit is in use.
7. The tool bit of claim 6 further comprising a rod, the rod extending longitudinally in the cavity in the shank, the rod substantially extending within an interior portion of the spring, the rod extending longitudinally along the entirety of the cavity.
8. The tool bit of claim 2 further comprising a shoulder, the shoulder being located between the shank and the tip.
9. The tool bit of claim 8 wherein the shank extends between the shoulder and the second end.
10. The tool bit of claim 9 wherein
- a portion of the shoulder defines an upper bound of the cavity;
- a portion of the second end defines a lower bound of the cavity; and
- a first end of the spring is attached to the portion of the shoulder which defines the upper bound of the cavity and a second end of the spring is attached to the portion of the second which defines the lower bound of the cavity.
11. The tool bit of claim 6 further comprising at least one anchor fixed within the cavity, wherein the spring has one end attached to the at least one anchor.
12. The tool bit of claim 11 wherein the at least one anchor is formed from a resilient material.
13. The tool bit of claim 1 wherein the first end is capable of engaging a tool bit.
14. The tool bit of claim 13 wherein the first end is a quick connect assembly.
15. The tool bit of claim 13 wherein the first end is magnetic.
16. The tool bit of claim 1 wherein the shank is flexible.
17. The tool bit of claim 1 wherein the first end is a tip.
18. The tool bit of claim 1 wherein the first end is a screw driver head.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 28, 2013
Publication Date: Mar 6, 2014
Applicant: COMBINED PRODUCTS CO. #1 INC. (CHICAGO, IL)
Inventor: Burton Kozak (Chicago, IL)
Application Number: 14/012,317
International Classification: B25B 23/00 (20060101); B25B 15/00 (20060101);